13th Airlift Squadron

13th Airlift Squadron History and Lineage 

Constituted 13 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 Jun 1942. Activated on 20 Jun 1942. Redesignated: 13 Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 Feb 1943; 13 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 Nov 1943. Inactivated on 1 Dec 1945. Redesignated 13 Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic, on 11 Mar 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 6 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 13 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1953. Redesignated 13 Military Airlift Squadron on 14 Jul 1987. Activated on 1 Oct 1987. Redesignated 13 Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1992. Inactivated on 31 Mar 2000. Redesignated 13 Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 Feb 2005. Activated on 12 Mar 2005 at Beale AFB, Calif., assigned to the 610th Regional Support Group, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. Realigned on 1 July 2009 under the 940th Operations Group, 940th Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.

Assignments: Photographic (later, 3 Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping) Group, 20 Jun 1942 (attached to 1 Bombardment Wing, 2 Dec 1942-16 Feb 1943, and to Eighth Air Force, 16 Feb-7 - Jul 1942); 7 Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, 7 Jul 1943-21 Nov 1945; unkn, 22 Nov-1 Dec 1945. 65 Reconnaissance Group, 6 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. 65 Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1953. 374 Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1987; 316 Airlift Support Group, 1 Apr 1992; 18 Operations Group, 1 Jun 1992; 438 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993; 305 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1994-31 Mar 2000. 610 Regional Support Group, 12 Mar 2005; 940th Operating Group 1 July 2009-

Stations: Colorado Springs, CO, 20 Jun-17 Oct 1942; Podington, England, 2 Dec 1942; Mount Farm, England, 16 Feb 1943; Chalgrove, England, 8 Apr 1945; Grove, England, c. 13 Oct-23 Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 30 Nov-1 Dec 1945. Rome AAFld, NY, 6 Jul 1947; Chemung County Aprt, NY, 26 Jan 1948-27 Jun 1949. Mitchel AFB, NY, 14 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1953. Kadena AB, Japan, 1 Oct 1987-1 Oct 1993; McGuire AFB, NJ, 1 Oct 1993-31 Mar 2000. Beale AFB, CA, 12 Mar 2005.

Commanders: Col James G. Hall, 10 Sep 1942; Maj Hershell E. Parsons, 8 Jul 1943; Maj Ray C. Mitchell, 15 Nov 1943; Maj Robert R. Smith, 19 May 1944; Capt George H. Nesselrode, 17 Aug 1944; Maj Walter D. Shade, 20 Mar 1945; Lt Col Benjamin F. Kendig, 18 May 1945; Maj Walter D. Shade, 21 Jul 1945; 1Lt John G. Weeks, 11 Sep 1945; Lt Col Fred Henry, c. 1 Oct-1 Dec 1945. Unkn, 6 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Unkn, 14 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1953. Lt Col David C. McClure, 1 Oct 1987; Lt Col William B. Carroll, 28 Nov 1989; Lt Col Daniel F. Fraley, 4 Apr 1991; Lt Col Gary L. Albaugh, 2 Jul 1991; Lt Col James D. Rummer, 1 Oct 1993; Lt Col Matthew F. Martorano, 1 Dec 1994; Lt Col Lee W. Sheedy, 21 Jun 1996; Lt Col Robert J. Hinger, 5 Aug 1996; Lt Col Lyn D. Sherlock, 31 Mar 1998; Lt Col Alan Hunt Jr., 27 Jul 1999-c. 31 Mar 2000; Lt. Col. David E. Lineback            (Help me to complete--send names).

Aircraft: P-38/F-5, 1942-1945; L-4, 1942-1943; Spitfire, 1943; P-51, 1945. Unkn, 1947-1949. C-46, 1952-1953. C-12, 1987-1993. C-141, 1993 - 2000; RQ-4 Global Hawk, 2005 -

Operations: Combat in ETO, 28 Mar 1943-26 Apr 1945. Intra-theater airlift for high-ranking PACAF and civilian officials and small mission-essential equipment, 1987-1993. Moved without personnel and equipment to McGuire AFB, NJ, on 1 Oct 1993 and absorbed personnel and equipment of the 30th Airlift Squadron. Equipped with C-141B, squadron took on a new world-wide airlift mission. 12 March 2005 redesignated 13th Reconnaissance Squadron operating RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft from Beale AFB, CA..

Honors:

Service Streamers: None.

Campaign Streamers: World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers: None.

Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 31 May-30 Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1991-31 May 1993; 1 Oct 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jun 1998-30 Jun 1999; 1 Jun 1998-30 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 1999-31 Mar 2000. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 1944.

Patch: Azure, a cat caricature descending bendwise Sable and Argent langued Gules grasping in its forepaws a winged globe Azure land masses Vert winged White all below three lightning flashes issuant from chief bendwise of the fourth in dexter a lightning flash issuant from chief palewise of the like; all within a diminished bordure Or. Copyright-Walt Disney. Approved on 6 Mar 1944 (K 8337), modified and reinstated on 5 June 1995; replaced emblem approved on 13 Oct 1988 (DFSC 89-03004).